“It seems the conflict between the Navy and the Army has come to the surface.”
According to ＜Ringo＞’s report, the Navy, which had been evasive about the pursuit, was finally finding it difficult to do so.
“Will that affect future negotiations?”
“Yes, Ma’am. There is a possibility that Army officials will participate in the meeting. Basically, the Army is only thinking about hindering the Navy, so it is expected that obstacles will occur in all negotiations.”
I wanted to conclude some kind of treaty before this happened.
In the end, the commotion at the unveiling party caused the negotiations to be suspended for several days.
The Navy has many realists, and it was very easy to search for compromises.
However, the Army is different.
Unlike the Navy, it has no remarkable achievements and is always trailing behind the Navy.
Moreover, it is a hopeless organization that seems to be thinking of tripping them up rather than overtaking them.
The fact that the Army’s raison d’être is fading due to the Navy’s success is also a problem.
“Hmm. What does the Army want to do in the end? I don’t really understand what they want to do.”
“According to the analysis, there are few organized forces, and various factions are in a state of contention. The budget is decreasing year by year and being taken by the Navy. The equipment is outdated, and there is no prospect of renewal. The role of border security is only about 100km of border with the neighboring country. Even there, the Navy is watching from the sea on both sides, and a Fortress has been built in the center, so it is in a state of impregnable defense.”
In the first place, a friendly treaty has already been concluded with the neighboring ＜Wheat Country (Weizenland)＞, and there is no neighboring country that the Army should be wary of.
The only thing to be wary of is a landing invasion from the sea.
Even so, the surrounding countries are weak compared to the Repuytari Kingdom and are not worth being wary of.
Of course, this is on the premise that there is sufficient naval power and army strength to repel any landing.
“The Army is only required to have the strength necessary to defend the homeland. Therefore, in order to appropriately reduce the originally abundant budget, they are being cut for various reasons. The Navy is often used as an excuse for this, and they seem to be hostile to it.”
“Hee. So it’s misdirected anger.”
Commander (Eve) dismissed the Army with a wave of her hand.
“Although it is connected to the continent, its nature is that of a maritime nation, so the decline of the Army’s power is a sign of the times. Initially, they had a strong land force because they had conquered this peninsula.”
By conquering the peninsula and making it a nation, the necessity of the Army disappeared. It would have been good if they could have dismantled it successfully here and shifted personnel to the Navy.
“The Army remained as it was, and the Navy, which originally had only equipment and personnel for coastal defense, achieved some kind of breakthrough and gained its power without relying on the Army. The Navy, which plundered money and goods from overseas and enriched the country, is the next generation star. The Army failed to adapt, and in the end, only the seeds of conflict remain.”
“Hmm…”
What ＜Ringo＞ is displaying is a detailed analysis of the power relations obtained from the Spybot network.
It seems that it has quantified the factions, influence, popularity, etc. of each person and performed its own analysis.
“Adding ‘own’ suddenly makes it suspicious…”
“Akane insisted on it.”
“I can’t help it.”
The Navy is neatly organized in a pyramid shape, but the Army is a mess. It’s hard to even tell who the top is.
Furthermore, surrounding it, local lords, nobles, and merchants are each asserting their presence.
“The Repuytari Kingdom has been continuing its expansionist policy until now. We have succeeded in driving a wedge into this and making them turn their attention to domestic affairs.”
“Honestly, I wasn’t thinking that far ahead. Looking at it like this, it’s so chaotic that they might start another civil war…”
Currently, domestic interest is directed overseas, which is stable in a way. Wealth flows in from overseas regardless of domestic affairs, so all citizens are benefiting in some way.
However, the expansionist policy will be put on hold here.
If there is a force far more powerful than themselves, there is no knowing how public opinion will move.
“It would be good if we could trade. Can the Navy hold out…?”
◇◇◇◇
“We are saying that if we leave it to the Navy, they will only be forced to conclude unfavorable conditions!”
“That’s right. Just because we are inferior in ship performance, we can’t afford to be intimidated!”
As expected, the admiral-class meeting was in turmoil.
“Depending on how we respond, our beautiful Moor might be hit by Cannon Shells! We are saying that we cannot respond carelessly!”
“We are saying that attitude is weak! If the problem is the Cannon on that ship, then we should line up our own Cannons!”
“There’s no way we can line up Cannons in the city!”
The Army opposes the Navy, which aims for a cautious response, so as not to be taken over. The integrated headquarters has not functioned for a long time, and the old generals who have been assigned to sinecure positions are simply maintaining their silence.
“In the current system, there is no one who can object when an unequal treaty is forced upon us, is there?”
“Are you trying to insult our negotiators! The negotiation representatives are veterans!”
“Hmph, I wonder about that. With you weak-kneed Navy guys, wouldn’t you be overturned with just a little poke?”
It was a great verbal brawl disguised as a meeting.
However, this meeting also has an important role as a vent for the Army.
Therefore, it is the commodore and rear admiral classes who are shouting on the Navy side, and the admirals and vice admirals are watching the trend of the conversation.
“We in the Army will also be attending the negotiation. There’s no objection to that, right?”
“The other party doesn’t want to talk to the Army! If you offend them, can you take responsibility!?”
“It would be useless to deal with a country that changes its response based on its mood!”
“Is it okay to be seen as a barbaric nation that can’t even control its own country!”
“It’s much better than being insulted as cowards who can’t even offer decent opinions!”
The meeting place was heated up, and abusive language was flying around to the point where a brawl could break out at any moment.
From the sidelines, it looks like a ridiculous exchange, but the people involved are shouting seriously.
Originally, both the Army and the Navy have been holding regular meetings with the tacit understanding that they are venting their frustrations.
It had gone beyond that scope and turned into a full-scale shouting match.
The only saving grace was that the carrying of weapons was completely prohibited, as a precaution against such a situation.
◇◇◇◇
“It’s getting exciting.”
“Yes, Ma’am. If the Navy is pushed aside and the Army participates in the meeting…”
“If they say anything unnecessary, we’ll blow them away?”
“Yes, Ma’am. That is also one of the options. We will leave it alone if it is just a political change, but it would be troublesome if they were to stage a coup, so we are not reluctant to crush it in advance if there is any sign of it.”
The great brawl is being broadcast from inside the parliament.
While watching it, Commander (Eve) and ＜Ringo＞ continue their conversation leisurely.
“If we were to introduce Burnstone transactions here, it would be a scene of utter chaos.”
“Yes, Ma’am. It would be like shooting incendiary bullets into an ammunition depot. The core of the country would be blown away with a grand fireworks display.”
Currently, ＜Paraiso＞ is trying to conclude a favorable treaty while threatening with force.
What would happen if we added Burnstone, literally fuel, to that?
“The Navy will naturally want to secure it, and the Army will also want it. The merchants will not remain silent either. We can see that a fierce scramble will occur.”
For that reason, Burnstone is intentionally excluded from the presented transport items.
Even so, even that Inventory List seems to be attractive to the Repuytari Kingdom, and their interest is very high…